Women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) have breast milk with lower concentration of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) compared to women without GDM

Abstract

Arachidonic acid (ARA) and DHA are essential for normal infant growth, vision, and neurological development. Breast feeding is encouraged, but data on breast milk composition for women with GDM are lacking. Fatty acid (FA) content of breast milk of women with (n=5, GDM) and without (n=9, C) GDM was assessed. Milk samples were collected at 2, 6, 10 and 12 weeks using a breast pump. Milk FA methyl esters were prepared by direct transesterification and separated, identified and quantitated with gas chromatography. GDM not consuming fish oil/DHA supplement during lactation had lower milk DHA (wt %) compared to C without supplementation at weeks 2, 6, and 10 (2 wks: GDM, 0.28; C, 0.36, p = 0.03; 6 wks: 0.16 vs. 0.28, p = 0.006; 10 wks: 0.17 vs. 0.30, p = 0.004). There was no difference for ARA. Further, GDM women had lower milk n‐3/n‐6 ratios at all weeks (2 wks: 0.22 vs. 0.27, p = 0.08; 6 wks: 0.20 vs. 0.28, p = 0.02; 10 wks: 0.23 vs. 0.32, p = 0.005; 12 wks: 0.22 vs. 0.28, p = 0.06). Mean dietary DHA intake was similar for groups (40 mg/day). ARA mean dietary intake was 95 mg/day for GDM and 130 mg/day for C. Based on these findings and the previous finding of Lammi‐Keefe (Wijendran et al, Lipids, 2000; 35; 927‐931) demonstrating that infants of women with GDM have low concentration of DHA at birth, the importance of DHA supplementation during breast feeding for women with GDM is underscored. (Supported in part by National Fisheries Institute and LSU AgCenter).